Career and Education Opportunities for Tax Examiners in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

If you want to be a tax examiner, the Baton Rouge, Louisiana area offers many opportunities both for education and employment. There are currently 740 jobs for tax examiners in Louisiana and this is projected to grow by 9% to about 810 jobs by 2016. This is not quite as good as the national trend for tax examiners, which sees this job pool growing by about 13.0% over the next eight years. In general, tax examiners determine tax liability or collect taxes from individuals or business firms according to prescribed laws and regulations.

Income for tax examiners is about $20 hourly or $41,920 per year on average in Louisiana. Nationally, their income is about $23 per hour or $48,100 yearly. Incomes for tax examiners are not quite as good as in the overall category of Accounting and Auditing in Louisiana, and not quite as good as the overall Accounting and Auditing category nationally. People working as tax examiners can fill a number of jobs, such as: verifier, customs agent, and tax auditor.

There are thirty-six schools of higher education in the Baton Rouge area, including two within twenty-five miles of Baton Rouge where you can get a degree to start your career as a tax examiner. Tax examiners usually hold some college courses, so you can expect to spend a short time studying to be a tax examiner if you already have a high school diploma.

CAREER DESCRIPTION: Tax Examiner

Tax Examiner video from the State of New Jersey Dept. of Labor and Workforce Development

In general, tax examiners determine tax liability or collect taxes from individuals or business firms according to prescribed laws and regulations.

Tax examiners maintain knowledge of tax code changes, and of accounting procedures and theory to properly evaluate financial data. They also maintain records for each case. Finally, tax examiners contact taxpayers by mail or telephone to address discrepancies and to request supporting documentation.

Every day, tax examiners are expected to be able to listen to and understand others in meetings. They need to read and understand documents and reports. It is also important that they articulate ideas and problems.

It is important for tax examiners to notify taxpayers of any overpayment or underpayment, and either issue a refund or request further payment. They are often called upon to collect taxes from individuals or businesses in line with prescribed laws and regulations. They also talk with taxpayers or their representatives to consider the issues and regulations involved in returns, and to deal with problems with returns. They are sometimes expected to send notices to taxpayers when accounts are delinquent. Somewhat less frequently, tax examiners are also expected to examine and analyze tax assets and liabilities to establish resolution of delinquent tax problems.

Tax examiners sometimes are asked to ready briefs, and help in searching and seizing records to ready charges and documentation for court cases. They also have to be able to enter tax return data into computers for processing And finally, they sometimes have to maintain knowledge of tax code changes, and of accounting procedures and theory to properly evaluate financial data.

Like many other jobs, tax examiners must have exceptional integrity and be thorough and dependable.

Similar jobs with educational opportunities in Baton Rouge include:

Accountant. Analyze financial information and prepare financial reports to determine or maintain records of assets, liabilities, profit and loss, tax liability, or other financial activities within an organization.

Budget Analyst. Examine budget estimates for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with procedures and regulations. Analyze budgeting and accounting reports for the purpose of maintaining expenditure controls.

Credit Analyst. Analyze current credit data and financial statements of individuals or firms to determine the degree of risk involved in extending credit or lending money. Prepare reports with this credit information for use in decision-making.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES: Tax Examiner Training

Southern University and A & M College - Baton Rouge, LA

Southern University and A & M College, Southern Branch Post Office, Baton Rouge, LA 70813. Southern University and A & M College is a medium sized university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It is a public school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 7,699 students and an admission rate of 55%. Southern University and A & M College has a bachelor's degree program in Accounting which graduated forty-one students in 2008.

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College - Baton Rouge, LA

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College, , Baton Rouge, LA 70803-2750. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College is a large university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It is a public school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 28,810 students and an admission rate of 73%. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College has bachelor's degree, master's degree, and doctor's degree programs in Accounting which graduated 152, forty-six, and two students respectively in 2008.

CERTIFICATIONS

Accredited Tax Advisor:
This credential is for practitioners who handle sophisticated tax planning issues, including ownership of closely held businesses, qualified retirement plans and complex estates.

LOCATION INFORMATION: Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Baton Rouge, Louisiana photo by Anrie

Baton Rouge is situated in East Baton Rouge Parish County, Louisiana. It has a population of over 223,689, which has shrunk by 1.8% in the past ten years. The cost of living index in Baton Rouge, 86, is well below the national average. New single-family homes in Baton Rouge are priced at $189,100 on average, which is well above the state average. In 2008, one hundred thirty-five new homes were built in Baton Rouge, down from two hundred fifty-seven the previous year.

The top three industries for women in Baton Rouge are educational services, health care, and public administration. For men, it is educational services, construction, and professional, scientific, and technical services. The average travel time to work is about 21 minutes. More than 31.7% of Baton Rouge residents have a bachelor's degree, which is higher than the state average. The percentage of residents with a graduate degree, 12.8%, is higher than the state average.

The unemployment rate in Baton Rouge is 7.1%, which is the same as Louisiana's average of 7.1%.

The percentage of Baton Rouge residents that are affiliated with a religious congregation, 52.7%, is more than the national average but less than the state average. Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Hughes United Methodist Church and Straight Life Baptist Church are all churches located in Baton Rouge. The most common religious groups are the Catholic Church, the Southern Baptist Convention and the United Methodist Church.

Baton Rouge is home to the Baton Rouge Industrial Park and the Baton Rouge Country Club as well as Howell Park and Independence Park. Shopping centers in the area include Carriage Alley Shopping Center, Sherwood Plaza Shopping Center and Foret and McCall Shopping Center. Visitors to Baton Rouge can choose from Pines Motel, Motel 6 and Shoneys Inn & Suites Baton Rouge for temporary stays in the area.